Local Roots with Global Ambitions : Contextual Factors Regarding Swedish Talent Development in Floorball

This study explored the contextual factors influencing talent development and reaching the senior national team within Swedish floorball, focusing on individuals born between 1990 and 2001, selected to the National Sports Secondary School (Riksidrottsgymnasiet, RIG) in floorball and/or the Swedish under 19 and the senior national teams. Employing a quantitative design, the research examined the impact of geographical background, local environment attributes, participation in talent programs (RIG and junior national teams), and relative age effects (RAE). Analyses were performed on 640 floorball players using logistic regression and Chi-squared tests. The study's findings revealed no statistically significant association between geographical origin and senior national team representation among those who had already progressed through talent programs, suggesting a reduced impact of geographical factors at higher athletic levels. Senior national team conversion rates from talent programs varied across the sexes; female programs demonstrated a higher yield of senior national team players, while male senior national team members originated from more varied developmental pathways than their female counterparts. Notably, RAE was primarily observed among female players in the initial talent program selection, disfavoring later-born individuals. However, this pattern reversed when considering the likelihood of senior national team representation post-program participation.